BACKGROUND AND STATE OF THE ART Brackets for suspension of an engine in a vehicle have previously been screwed firmly into milled planes on the engine. This entails engine design having to cater for fastening points for the engine, which can lead to problems when it is desired to modify an engine design. For example, a desired new engine design may lead to there being no suitable space for the fastening points. An example which may be quoted is that in certain engine designs it may be desirable to relocate the transmission for components which form part of the engine from the forward edge to the rear edge of the engine, in which case this transmission will occupy the space otherwise required for suitable fastening points for suspending the engine. It is therefore desirable to arrange the brackets for suspending the engine in such a way as to eliminate the need for engine design to cater for fastening points.

Another problem may arise when it is desired to combine an engine and a gearbox of different magnitudes with respect to dimensional parameters which are critical for joining the engine and the gearbox together, such as the distribution or pitch circle diameter of the boltholes which are used for joining the engine and the gearbox together. Such cases require a solution which allows flexibility in joining together an engine and the gearbox of different magnitudes with respect to dimensional parameters which are critical in this respect, which solution will, for example, facilitate design modifications involving a change of engine or gearbox.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an engine suspension which enhances flexibility with respect to different engine designs. A further object is to facilitate the design of new engines. Yet another object is to facilitate the incorporation of different types of engine in the vehicle.

The objects stated above are achieved by an insert intended to be fitted between an engine and a gearbox in a vehicle, on which insert at least one bracket for suspending the engine in the vehicle is arranged.

According to a preferred embodiment, the bracket is arranged on an arm protruding from the insert. The arm and the insert are preferably cast integrally. Such a design results in great strength.

According to a preferred embodiment, the bracket takes the form of at least one detachable plate which is fastened to the one arm, preferably from beneath, relative to a suspended engine, by threaded connection. The bracket will thus be more readily accessible, since the bracket is usually covered by various constructional elements on the upper side.

According to a preferred embodiment, on the upper side of the insert, relative to a suspended engine, there is at least one threaded hole intended for at least one lifting device, preferably a lifting eye, for use in lifting the engine in and out. This eliminates the need for any separate constructional elements, e. g. lifting lugs at any of the threaded connections between engine and gearbox, to make it possible to lift the engine in and out.

According to a preferred embodiment, the insert takes the form of an adapter to make it possible to join an engine and a gearbox together in cases where these latter exhibit

different magnitudes with respect to dimensional parameters which are critical for joining the engine and the gearbox together, such as different distribution or pitch circle diameter of the boltholes used for joining them together. Flexibility with regard to combinations of engine and gearbox is thus enhanced. Also solved is a problem which would arise from the alternative of using a separate adapter, namely that two or more different constructional elements occupy more space than one. Two or more different constructional elements would also lead to problems in administration and stockholding and hence to increased costs. An insert in the form of an adapter thus reduces the number of parts involved and hence costs and space requirements.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the insert is arranged to be fastened on one side to a flywheel housing belonging to the engine and on the other side to the gearbox, and the bracket on the insert is arranged to be fastened in a vehicle frame via at least one vibration insulator.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, in which Fig. 1 depicts a schematic sketch of an insert according to an embodiment of the invention, placed between an engine and a gearbox, as seen from above, and Fig. 2 depicts a schematic perspective view of the insert in Fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows schematically how an insert 1 is placed between an engine 2 and a gearbox 3.

On the engine side, the insert 1 is preferably fastened to a flywheel housing 4 belonging to the engine. The brackets 5 for suspending the engine are arranged on two arms 6 which

protrude from the insert 1. The brackets 5 are provided with vibration insulators 7 on their upper side, relative to a suspended engine. The vibration insulators 7 are preferably connected to the brackets 5 by means of screws 8 which are screwed into the vibration insulators 7 and the brackets 5 from above, relative to a suspended engine. The vibration insulators 7 are fastened in a frame 9 of the vehicle; in the embodiment according to Fig.

1, the fastening of the vibration insulators 7 in the frame 9 is concealed by an upper portion of the frame 9, but the fastening may be arranged, e. g. by means of threaded connection, on any desired appropriate portion of the frame 9. The gearbox 3 is situated behind the engine 2, so the brackets 5 on the insert 1 constitute the engine's rear suspension.

Fig. 2 depicts a schematic view of the insert 1; and the arrows in Fig. 2 show on which sides of the insert the engine 2 and the gearbox 3 respectively are to be situated.

The brackets 5 take the form of detachable plates fastened to the arms 6 by means of screws 10 (partly concealed in Fig. 2). When worn-out vibration insulators 7 have to be changed or the engine 2 and the gearbox 3 have to be lifted out for some other reason, it is necessary to be able to have access to the screws 10. This is facilitated by the plates 5 being screwed firmly to the insert 1 from beneath, relative to a suspended engine. When the engine 2, the gearbox 3 and the insert 1 have been fitted, access to the brackets from above is in fact difficult because they are covered by various constructional elements. The plates are provided with screwholes 11 for the screws 8 which connect the plates and the vibration insulators 7.

The arms 6 in Fig. 2 on which the brackets 5 are to be arranged are made up of two wings or slightly arcuate sides 12 which extend rearwards from the remainder of the insert 1, forming a structure which provides desirable strength characteristics, otherwise strength problems might arise when arranging the brackets for suspending the engine on the relatively thin insert, the thickness of which is between 30 and 40 mm. The insert 1 with

arms 6 is preferably made integrally by casting, and the material used is preferably nodular iron.

Two threaded holes 13 are arranged on the upper side of the insert 1. Lifting eyes can be screwed down into these holes and be used for lifting the engine in and out.

The insert 1 in Fig. 2 takes the form of an adapter to make it possible to join together an engine 2 and a gearbox 3 with different standards for the distribution (D2 and D3 respectively) and pitch circle diameters of the screwholes used for joining them together.

Pitch circle diameter means the diameter of the imaginary circle formed by the mutual positioning of the screwholes. The insert 1 thus makes it possible to buy in a desired gearbox 3 without having to modify the distribution or pitch circle diameter of the screwholes on the existing flywheel housing 4. Where applicable, the insert takes the form of an adapter between standards SAE 1 and SAE 2 in cases where an automatic gearbox is used.

The foregoing is not to be regarded as limiting the invention but merely as illustrating possible versions. This means, for example, that the insert need not be annular as in Fig. 1 but may be square or of some other geometrical shape. The insert may take the form of an adapter for various dimensional parameters, e. g. differences in diameter between engine and gearbox. The insert need not take the form of an adapter at all, but may be arranged for other purposes, e. g. to constitute a spacing means. The insert need not be fastened to the engine's flywheel housing but may be fastened to some other appropriate part of the engine. The brackets need not take the form of plates but may, for example, comprise planar surfaces on the insert, which planes are arranged, for example, to be screwed firmly in a frame of the vehicle. Many other alternative solutions also fall within the scope of what is indicated in the ensuing claims.